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Bill requiring welfare recipients to take drug tests headed to [Florida] governor
Miami Herald ^ | May 6. 2011 | Jodie Tillman, Herald/Times Tallahassee bureau

Posted on 05/06/2011 12:53:13 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

TALLAHASSEE -- Applying for welfare benefits in Florida? Soon you’ll need to get drug tested.

A measure requiring the tests passed the Senate on Thursday and is headed to Gov. Rick Scott, who called it one of his legislative priorities.

“It’s fair to taxpayers,” Scott said after the vote. “They’re paying the bill. And they’re often drug screened for their jobs. On top of that, it’s good for families. It creates another reason why people will think again before using drugs, which as you know is just a significant issue in our state.”

Scott already signed an executive order requiring random drug testing of state workers.

HB 353 requires all adult recipients of federal cash benefits — the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program — to pay for the tests, which are typically around $35. The screen would be for all controlled substances and applicants would have to disclose any legal prescriptions.

Recipients who test positive for drugs would lose their benefits for a year. If they fail a second time, they lose the benefits for three years. Parents who test positive must designate another adult to receive benefits on behalf of their children.

Those who pass would be reimbursed by having their benefits increased by the cost of the test.

“This is an effort to stop this cycle of drug abuse,” said Sen. Steve Oelrich, R-Gainesville, one of the sponsors, who added the requirement was similar to one that many employers make of workers.

(Excerpt) Read more at miamiherald.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: budget; drugabuse; rickscott; taxes; welfare
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1 posted on 05/06/2011 12:53:20 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

How long before one hears screams of ‘racism’?


2 posted on 05/06/2011 12:55:06 PM PDT by tgusa (Investment plan: blued steel, brass, lead, copper)
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To: tgusa

“F”em! If you want the money take the test!


3 posted on 05/06/2011 12:56:20 PM PDT by WellyP
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Is beer a drug?


4 posted on 05/06/2011 12:58:34 PM PDT by central_va
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

It’s about time!!!!!!!!!!


5 posted on 05/06/2011 1:01:24 PM PDT by Dapper 26
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

bump


6 posted on 05/06/2011 1:02:11 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici (The last Democrat worth a damn was Stalin. He purged his whole Party.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

This is NOT a bad idea. There are some safeguards as well for prescription medications or a visit to the dentist (novacaine can test positive).


7 posted on 05/06/2011 1:02:28 PM PDT by momtothree
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To: tgusa

How long before one hears screams of ‘racism’?


WHO CARES??? This is like crying “fire” over and over until no one listens or cares anymore.


8 posted on 05/06/2011 1:02:50 PM PDT by DefeatCorruption
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To: tgusa
"How long before one hears screams of ‘racism’?"

About one minute after the first study showing a disproportionate number of a certain racial group being denied compared to whitey.

9 posted on 05/06/2011 1:04:21 PM PDT by Abathar (Proudly posting without reading the article carefully since 2004)
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To: central_va

“Is beer a drug?”

Yea, but don’t tell anyone.


10 posted on 05/06/2011 1:05:02 PM PDT by A Strict Constructionist (Oligarchy...never vote for the Ivy League candidate.)
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To: DefeatCorruption

I’m sure the liberal view is that drug testing people on public assistance is violating people’s rights.

Well, if you want to use drugs, then you can’t be on public assistance. We all make choices in life.

I’m sure liberals will decry drug addicts getting kicked off public assistance. They will say that now they can’t get treated for their addictions, among other things.


11 posted on 05/06/2011 1:05:36 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
We have so many abusers and users of the welfare system here in Florida it is breaking our backs!

Folks come down here from the cold and immediately apply for every kind fo welfare that's available.

I know of a rehab center in SW Florida that accommodates “addicts” from the NE during the winter time for 30 day stints-they leave for a week, get a $500 welfare check, use it on drugs and are back at the rehab center for 30 more days of “a cot and 3 hots” a pool, jacuzzi, tennis courts.

All of this, of course, sponsored by the taxpayer!

12 posted on 05/06/2011 1:06:26 PM PDT by not2worry (WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

NEXT for the drug tests: Incumbent politicians.


13 posted on 05/06/2011 1:06:36 PM PDT by Rudder (The Main Stream Media is Our Enemy---get used to it.)
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To: DefeatCorruption

EXACTLY. We need to laugh in the face of every preposterous use of the race card. We are going to see it more and more as 2012 gets closer.


14 posted on 05/06/2011 1:08:11 PM PDT by tgusa (Investment plan: blued steel, brass, lead, copper)
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To: momtothree

(novacaine can test positive).

Not for cocaine. The mass spec is incontrovertible evidence for cocaine use.


15 posted on 05/06/2011 1:09:23 PM PDT by grumpygresh (Democrats delenda est)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

This is so great I can’t stand it...jumping for joy that FINALLY it’s about time someone applied some common logic to this gimmeee-gimmee group - can’t pass a drug test then you can’t get a job..same rule should apply to welfare.


16 posted on 05/06/2011 1:10:32 PM PDT by DefeatCorruption
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Finally, common sense prevails.


17 posted on 05/06/2011 1:17:59 PM PDT by RC one (Donald Trump-I'm still listening)
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To: RC one

I’ve heard this mentioned in Texas.

Wonder if this will become a national trend.


18 posted on 05/06/2011 1:19:18 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

I can see it happening in Ohio. Our state is running a 10 billion dollar budget deficit and our governor has made it clear that he is serious about cutting costs.


19 posted on 05/06/2011 1:22:26 PM PDT by RC one (Donald Trump-I'm still listening)
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To: central_va

Nope! It is a NUTRITIOUS FOOD!


20 posted on 05/06/2011 1:26:58 PM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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